Sound-reproducing machine



Sept. 25 1923., 1,469,152

G -M. BOUMPHREY SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l Zhuwz/an Sept; 25 M. BQUMPHREY SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21". 1921 a Sheets-=Sheet s A edSeptQ as, res.

- To all whom it may concern;

. eno'rranr in. .souiarnanr', or ssrcmrrn, LYMM, ENGLAND.

SO'U-REPRQDUCING MACINE.

, ep nmm filed January 21, 1921 ..Seria1 n6. teases.

Be it known-thatl, GEOFFREY'MAXWELL BoUMrHnnY, a British subject, residin at Bayclifle, Lyinm, in the county of Ches ire, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound Reproducing Machines, of which the followingis a specification. I I

- This invention relates to'gramophones or sound-reproducing instruments using discshaped records and has for object to provide mechanism adapted to be controlled from a distance, whereby a number. of records may separately and in succession be automatically brought into position for playing, rotated and. played, and then removed from action.

Broadly, the invention provides fixed means for supporting a number of records in a suitable position above the playing position of a record, release mechanismadapted to release the records one by one as required, feed-mechanism adapted to conduct the released record to the playin position, supporting means adapted to ho d and rotate the record in playing position on the turn-table, and; release-mechanism adapted to release the record at the requisite moment and cause it to be withdrawn out of action; it further provides mechanism adapted to raise the tone-arm so as to lift the needle from the record at the desired moment, and to rotate the tone arm outwardly out of the path of the record next to be conveyed to the turn-table, afterwards rotating the tone arm inwardly and then causing it to be lowered so as to place the needle upon the new record in a position suitable for com mencing playing. 1

These mechanisms are caused to function automatically and at the proper moment to ensure continuous action, on the operation of distant controlling means which maybe connected by a sheathed .cable or the like to the mechanism, the said controlling means also operating the brake which stopsthe I Y I machine.

The invention in the preferred form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which? Fig. 1 is a plan with the turntable and record support removed. A

Fig. 2 isa longitudinal vertical .section of the same, the turntable and record support being in place. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line 44.- of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 5 are perspectives and transverse sections respectively of the rod for operating the tone arm.

6 is a detail in elevation showing the means for displacing the lowermost record of the pile for delivery to playing position.

Fig. 7 is a broken lanshowing the spring connection'between t e push bar and operatmg lever of the "record transferring means. Fig, 8 1s a bottom plan, view of the disc collar for holding the tone arm in elevated position during its movement to inoperative playing position.

- 9 is an edge view of the same.

F 1g. 10 is an enlarged elevation of the upper end of the pillar for supporting the records, showing particularly the means for holding the lowermost record above playing position.

' Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the thimble arranged to be inserted in the turn table spindle opening of the usual records to adapt such records for the present machine.

According to the preferred form of the invention, a number of records required to be played is placed in position on a central stationary pillar 1 which is stepped as shown at 2, F i 3, so that the lowest record is held up by' t e shoulder 3 and on the arms 4, 5 o a support or platform suitably mounted at the side of the machine. For the portion of its length between the shoulder 3 and the playing position of the record, thepillar 1 is polygonal in section, the angles of the polygon forming a spiral of intially-lar but gradually-diminishing pitch asit escends from the top. The upper portion is also polygonal but has no twist. Preferably, the section is hexagonal vas illustrated.

The pillar is detachably mounted in a socket spring seats 12 carried by a plate 13 detachably mounted by bayonet joints on the base of the pillar 1.

The spring band 11 is anchored near one end to an adjustable saddle 14: Fig. 1 carried by the lever 24, and the other end is secured to the lever 15 which passes beneath the turntable and is pivoted at 16 to the supporting platform.

The tone-arm 17 is slidably and rotatably mounted axially in the neck of the horn 18 which is illustrated as of the internal type, and carried by a spindle 19 fixedly mounted thereto, the spindle having a fixed collar. 20 by means of which it may be lifted on the suitable operation of the arm 21 by means of link 22, and lever 23 actuated by .a member 24; hinged at the point 25 to the lever 15. The tone-arm carries at its free end a pro jecting arm 17 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The collar 20 is bevelled as shown and carries a slot 20*, Figs. 8 and 9; and the bracket 20 supporting the upper end of the spindle 19 carries a spring controlled catch 20 governed by a spring 20 and having a bevelled nose 20 which is adapted to be moved aside by the collar 20 during its lift, but to engage automatically beneath said collar and support the tone arm until the slot 20 registers with the catch 20 and permits the tone-arm to fall again; Preferably the underside of the collar has an undercut cam-shaped groove 20 'as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and the nose of the catch projects inwardly beyond the limit of the slot 20, so as to prevent the tone-arm from falling when it is moving outwardly; but when it is moving inwardly the catch enters the groove 20 and is forced backwards by the cam-shaped wall of said groove and allows the tone-arm to fall when'the slot registers angularly with it,

The control mechanism preferably consists of a sheathed cable 26 secured to a sliding member 27 adapted to engage with the lever 15 by means of a pin 27 and slot 27 to pull the lever 24 over to the right of Fig. 1 when the cable is drawn outwardly to its full extent from the position shown. During the first part of its movement, a rack 28 formed in the sliding member 27 meshes with a pinion'29 which has a cam-shaped slot 30 in which is situated a pin 31 of the brake-lever 32 controlled by a spring 33, the slot 30 beingshaped to withdraw the brake from engagement with a depending flange formed beneath the turntable when the cable is pulled outwardly to the right of the position shown in Fig. 1. The engaging surface of the slot 30 is recessed as shown at 34 so that the brake spring 33 cannot rotate the pinion 29 unless the said pinion is first moved by the rack 28. The above movement of the sliding member 27 does not move the lever 15 owing to the provision of the slot 27?.

a slot 39 in which may be seated the upturned tip of a spring 40 carried by the lever 32. But the inner face of the outer wall of the slot isbevelled so that the spring may be forced out of engagement therewith, in which circumstance it seats itself behind the rack and maintains it in engagement with the pinion so long as it remains so seated, the outer wall of the slot being cut away as shown at 39 to permit of the re-entry of the s ring in- .to the slot as requisite. A. spring ever-39 mounted. on the end of the lever 15 engages behind the rack and forces it into engagement with the pinion 38 when the lever 15 is suitably actuated. The brake rod 32 carries a guide 43 limiting the movement of the rack towards the pinion 38. In its extreme position the rack-engages ,with and displaces an inclined leaf spring .44.

The arms 4:, 5 form part of a sheet metal bracket shown separately at Fig. 6, having two parallel slots 36 in the upper surface, and a fixed spindle 36 the said spindle being provided with a spring-controlled rocking sleeve 36 provided with an extension or tail 36 projecting laterally into the path of the projection 17 of the tone-arm 17. The sleeve 36 carries two upstanding arms 36 fixedly attached thereto, the arms being hingedly mounted at their-upper ends to two sliding members 41,- each having a downwardly extending nose lying in one of the slots 36. The sliding members 41 are situated above the level of the supporting surface of the bracket but extend approximately parallel thereto. Spring 41*, Figures 6 and 7, situated in the hinges of the slid ng members causes them to rise upwardly against the limit set by cross-pieces 42 housed in the said noses and engaging with the underside of the bracket adjacent the slots 36. The arrangement is such that when action of their hinge-spring 41 but recover the position shown when the tone-arm has moved again towards the pillar 1 out of engagement with the tail piece 36 The action of the mechanism is as fol lows 2- When it is desired to-change a record, the brake being ofi', the control cable isl-it'urther withdrawn to its outward osition swinging the lever to the right in ig. l, and is then immediately released" whereupon it returns under the action of the spring 11' to the neutral position. The movement ofthe lever 15 causes the spring 11 to contract and operate the pivoted armsv 6 by means of the rollers 10, thus allowing the record in the playing position to all down onto-the seats 12 under the action. of gravity. The move; ment of themember- 24 ac'tuates the arm 21 and link 22 and causes the lever23 to- 'raise. the tone-arm up from itsplaying postionlf It is maintained. by the catch in the raised position. The spring lever}39 -at the sametime forces the rack -37 into engagement with the pinion 38, and the s'pringfiO 'thenseats itself behind the rack and main.- f tains it in engagement. The pinion- 38 en-. gaging with the rackcalises-the rod 37 to move towards the right,- this rotating the tone-arm clear of the turn -table,'- and "ulti-.

mately causing the arm l7 toactuate the.

movable member 36, which operates the .sliding members 41 so as to push the lowest rec did on the shoulder 3 'andsupports 4, 5" lat erally ,until it is clearof the said shoulder and supports; whereupon'it falls downthe pillar 1 acquiring during its fall, a'speed of rotation approximately equal to that of the turn-table owing to its engagement with the pol-ygonal spiral. The next lowest record is" prevented from being pushed forward bythe upper part of the illar 1.

The latter portion of the movement-ofthe rod 37 towards the right'a'ctuates theileaf spring 44, and when at length the-rod is moved so far that the spring '40 is adapted to re-enter the slot 39 throughthe recess 39% the spring 44, being inclined disengages the: rack from .theopinion and forcesithe-rod backwards, co-operating with the-springer the rocking shaft 36", to'rotate the 'to'ner'arm' back towards its playing: positionf During this movement, the nose of the catch 20 has fallen in the groove 20 the cam-shaped wall of which deflects the catch until on further backward. rotation of the tone-arm it registers with the slot 20 and allows thetone-arm to fall so as to' apply the'needleto the-new record. The slot 20 is so s tuated that the.

tone-arm is only allowed-to fall when the needle is situated at the desired position r'el-r atively to the new'. record.

It will-be seen that during the-outward movement of the tone-arm the undeflected nose of the catchv prevents the catch fromentering the slot 20 *"as' in the return posl j tion.

A weak leafspring45is arranged to be engaged by the joint between the lever and rod 36 when said rod has-been moved in a direction to swing the tone arm beyond the ment of theparts toward the left or? in adia 'rectlon' to. return the-tone arm to.

groove of therecord;

When it is desired 'to stop the machine; the control is actuated as for record changing, but immediately atter its return to the neutral position it is then pushed inwardly operating the sliding member 27.. This releases the brake so as to apply the brake padeo I" to the-{underside flange of the' t urn-.table' and owmgto the previous "record-changing v actuation, the'record last'played will at this- L. it J point have been released from its playing: pposition and-thespring 4O willQbe seated behind the rack 37 The tone arm however,

will t haveirotated sufli ci'ently'far torelease" another record from the shoulder 3 as the movement of the brake-rod 32 with- I I draws thera'ck out of engagement with the 'pinion owing to-the provision of the guide 43.- If it-is desired to change the'records,

jthis'ma'ynow be; done,. the played-records being-removed lifting the pillar 1' from.

1 13 from theibayonet slots in which :it i'shel'dJ .Whe'n newirecords are setup in position,

its seating? and thus. (letachingthe holder the brake is withdrawn by actuating the Con trol tot'he' neutralpositiom'whereupon 'tlief we rack re engages the pinion and gthe release.

'of the 'lowe strecord ,proceedsas described above; Alternatively: thebrake' may be put i on either. during jp'layin or after all the: I. records have been played; 1

- ItWlll be understood that-the invention ioa includefs'lmodifications of the above 'pre.-

ferred-forni' -Forinstance; electrical means may, desired-,zbeemployed in the control I 3 meehanisininstead the sheathed cable; Ins der-to adapt the invention to exist Ing-'reeords,' or jto 're cords suitable for use on other-machines, a specialthimb'le is pref;

erably provided to adapt -the usual circular central hole for use with the spiral thread.

or feather grasp-nun. The saidthimble' comprises' a' spring-Afiin the form of a broken ring having projections on its inner surfaee asshown in Fig. '11; The" spring circularhole'of a record and attached by'reexpanding. The prgjec'tions then serve to is compressed land-inserted in the central v engage with-theflats Qrieatherof the pillars- .1 and impart rotation .to'the' record during its fall. Further,'ada pters heprovide'd to accommodate records o'fsmaller diameter enabling them to restflon the'supports 4 and 5" andhavinga spiral groove adapted to move the stylus acrossftheir breadth and into' .--the groove .of the} records.

I claim 1. In sound reproducing machines pro vided with record changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc'records in succession, the combination of stationary supports adapted to support a plurality of unplayed records vertically above the playingposition of a record, movable holders adapted to support and rotate a single record in its playing position, and means situated vertically beneath the playing position for supporting a plurality of played records.

2. In sound reproducing machines pro-' vided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, the combination of stationary supports adapted to support a plurality of unplayed records vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders adapted to support and rotate a single record in its playing position, automatic means for laterally displacing for a short distance the lowest unplayed record so that it is clear of the said supports and falls under gravity on to the said movable holders, and means situated vertically beneath the playing position for supporting a plurality of played records.

3. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc. records in succession, the combination of a side bracket and central pillar having a shoulder adapted to support a plurality of unplayed records vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders adapted to support and rotate a single record in its playing position, automatic means for laterally displacing for a short distance the lowest unplayed record so that it is clear of the said bracket and shoulder and falls under gravity down the said pillar on to said movable holders, means for imparting rotation to the said record during its fall and means situated vertically beneath the playing position for supporting a plurality of played records.

4. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, the combination of stationary supportsadapted to support a plurality of unplayed records vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders adapted to support and rotate a single record in its laying position, automatic means for lateral y displacing for a short distance the lowest unplayed record so that it is clear of the said supports and falls under gravity on to the said movable holders, means situated vertically beneath the playing position for supporting a plurality of played records, and distant controlling means adapted first to move the movable holders out of their operative position then, to cause them to be restored thereto and subsequently to cause the displacement of the lowest unplayed record.

5. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, the combination of a side bracket and central pillar having a shoulder adapted to support a plurality of unplayed records vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders adapted tosupport and rotate a single record in its playing position. automatic means for laterally displacing for a short distance the lowest unplayed record so that it is clear of the said bracket and shoulder and falls under gravity down the said pillar on to said mov-.

able holders, means for imparting rotation to the said record during its fall, distant controlling-means adapted first to move the movable holdersout of their operative position then to cause them to be restored thereto and subsequently to cause the displacement of the lowest unplayed record, and means situated vertically beneath the playing position for supporting a plurality of played records.

6. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, the combination of a side bracket and central pillar having a shoulder adapted to support a plurality of unplayed records Vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders adapted to support and rotate a single record in its 3 playing osition, automatic means for displacing aterally for a short distance the lowest unplayed record so that it is clear of the said bracket and shoulder and falls under gravity down the said pillar on to said movable holders, the said pillar being formed with .a spiral element adapted to rotate the record during its fall.

7. In a sound reproducing machine provided with record-changing mechanism adapted'to play a plurality of disc records in succession, automatic means for lifting and rotating the reproducer clear of a record comprising a motor, a tone-arm adapted to swing about a vertical axis, a reproducer on said tone-arm a spindle attached to said tonearm and coincident with said axis, a distant control adapted to cause said spindle to be raised, a radial lever projecting from said tone-arm, a lever hinged thereto terminating in a rack, a toothed pinion rotated by said motor, means adapted to engage said rack with said pinion on the actuation of arm a predetermined distance outwardly of the record, automatic means forarr'estin'g' .said tone-arm and swinging it inwardly; 'again, and automatic me'ans for lowering.

' collar,' ahinged'leveradapted to operate said said-s indleand tone-arm.-

I 8. nraflsound-rep'roducing machine pro-= vided withfl recordchangingv .mechanism adapted to play a pluralityofadisc records in succession, automatic means for lifting and rotating the-reprod'u-cer clear of a record, =cbmpr1singt-a motor, atone-arm adapted'toswing about .-a jviertical axis, a reproducer on said tone-arm, a spindle attached. to said tone-armand coincident withsaid axis, a

collar on said 'spindle, an arm adapted toraise said collar, a hinged lever adapted to operate said arm, a "distant" c'ontrol adapted tooperate said.lhingedw-levenxsofas to cause said tone-arm to -be raised, a rfadial lever' rOj-ectin giQ-HfroIn sa'i d to nef-'arm-,L' a ,le've3 r 'hinied' ther'eto" terminating; ina rack,'. a

ed pinion rotated by? said. motor; the said rack being engaged withi-s'aid l'nionv on-the operation of the hinged lever y the: distant control so as to swing 'said tone-arm toot a predetermined distance outward-ly of the record in .its iraisedt position, automatic means .for arresting said;tone-arm.fand. swinging it inwardly again,- -and'automati cmeans: for lowering 'saifd spindle and tonearm. Y

.95111; a sound reproduci-ng machine-provided with 'record changing -m echa'nismadapted to play a plurality of disc"records in succession, automaticmeans for lifting and rotating the .rep'rodi cer clearer a recordf comprisingi'amotor -a tone-arm adapted to swin -1 about a Vertical axis as indie atv b I,

tached thereto'andcoincident with said axis,v a reproducer' on said tone-arm, a distant. con;

troliadapted to cause said spindle-jt'o b raised, a radial 1everfprojectingf from said tone-arm, apleyer hingedthereto terminating. in a rack, atoo'thed pinion rotated 'bjjz said motor, means adapted to engage said rack with saidpini'on on the actiiation ofithe dis tant controlsoas tos'wi'n'g' sai'd tone-'arma predetermined distance I outwardly i of the record, automaticmeans for; arresting said tone-arm,- and swinging i't inwardly .again-, said means comprising-aslot;- formed in the rack, 'ja be'yelled 'wall to said slot' a spring having. an" upturned. end engaged insaid slot, said upturned end beingalso adapted" to seat itself behind the-said wall, said wall be-i 'L'ng cutaway topermit the re-entry offlthe upturned end of saidspring into the slot and an inclined abutment spring v substantially'as described;

10. In a sound reproducing machine pro Vided --with record-changing Y mechanism adapted to-play a plurality-of disc records in ;uccession, automatic means for lifting and rotating-the reproducer clear of a record :omprising a motor, a tone-arm' adaptedto swing about a vertlcal an-1s, acspmdle -at.--

arm, a distant control -adapted I-to operate said hinged lever so as to causesaid tone-arm a reproducer on said tone'-"arm,ja collar on 7 to be raised, a radial,lever-'projectrhgfrom said tone-arm, a lever hinged thereto termi nating in'a rack, a toothed pinion rotate d by:-

said motor, the said rack-being-engaged with said pinion on the operation of a. hinged -lever by" the distant control so as to swing said tone-'arm,"a predetermined distance outwardly'of thereco-rd in itsrajisedposition, .autom.at;ic means for. .arrestin-g saidjftonearm andsw-inging it inwardly a aingand all; v .tomatic mean'sfor lowering sa'i' Spindle and I; tone-arm comprising, an"automatic"'hinged Y catch adapted to engagebelow 'the"s'aid*.c0l* I in in theraised positio'n a slotjiin said collar situated in a predetermined angular -='posi-" the nose of said catch 'onzthe returnmove tion,- said' slot being smaller in vlength than the-nose-of said catch, a recess. on the un derside of said'collar, said recess having a loam-shaped wall adaptedto 'force backwards 90 ment of the tone-arm so that itallows the collarto. fall on registeringiwith said: slot substantially as described.

11.11151 sound reproducing mechanism m, vided withre'cordchanging" mechanism adaptedjto play-a. pluralityof disc records 'in successiom; record holdingand releasing I means-comprising a rotatable element-yup standing ia'rms pivoted to. said element? 'record holding. means? at the upper end: of 1' {said "arms, radialinwardly-directed" rods pivoted to the -'lower fends'of said-amass spring strip-curred to acircl'e';theg'frae-endv ofsaid strip vbein'gj' connected to a'control mechanism adapted to withdrawtli'e 'saidfree'endjandrreduce'the size of. the'circle, :meanS' attached tos'aidrods adapted to', be'.-}

engaged byusaids'pring strip' when'the c'o'nI- I tr Imechani'smis actuated soasto jdra'w said i rodsinwardlyandcause all the record hold- 1 Iing'means tobe' moved outwardly so as to1be-', r

adaptedjlet'i gfall a record jhe'ldon 'means. i

12. 11; sound" reproducing mechanism irovided with .jre'c'ord changing mechanism adaptedtop lay ajplurality ofdisc records I in, succession, wherein nnplayed-re'cords are allowed to fall one by one'd'own' to the-play 'ing position, a central-- pillar, a -shoulder near the topof saidp'illar;a'ireyerse shoul- 'derat-the-opposite side ofsaid pillar, said i shoulders} being. separated in height byv an amount approximately equal to and-[not less 1. 13. In sound reproducing machines pro-' aided. with record-changing .mechanism'-,

than the, thickness of a record,

adapted-to play a pluralit. of disc --.records-;v I

in succession wherein unp ayedre'cords are allowed to fall one by one down to the playing position, thecombination with a spirally-formed central pillar down which the records fall, of means adapted to be fitted in the central hole ofa record for operatively engaging the spiral of the pillar so as to impart rotation to the record during its fall.

14. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a pluralit of disc records in succession wherein unp ayed records are allowed to fall one by one down to the playing position, the combination with a spirally formed central pillar down which the records fall, of means adapted to be fitted in the central hole of a record for operatively engaging the spiral of the pillar so as to impart rotation to the record during its fall, said means comprising a spring strip having projections on its inner surface, and means for operatively engaging said strip with the inner edge of a record.

15. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, a plurality of movable holders adapted to hold a record horizontally in the playing position, means for rotating said holders and record suitably for playing, means for moving said holders so that they are withdrawn outwardly from beneath said record, so as to let said record fall under the action of gravity, and means for supporting said record when it has fallen "from the playing position.

16. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, a plurality of movable holders adapted to hold a record horizontally in the playing position, means for rotating said holders and record suitably for playing, means for moving said holders so that they are withdrawn outwardly from beneath said record, so as to let said record fall under the action of gravity, a detachable central pillar passing centrally through said record, andmeans mounted on said pillar for supporting said record when it has fallen from the playing position.

17. In" sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to pla a plurality of disc records in succession, t e combination of stationary supports adapted to support a pile of unplayed records vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders adapted to support and rotate a single recordin its playing position, means situated vertically beneath the playing position for supporting a plurality of played records, and

, means adapted-to tri the movable holders to cause them to re ease the record held thereon and allow it to fall on the playedrecord holding-means.

18. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, the combination of a central pillar and a lateral support adapted to support a pile of unplayed records vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders adapted to support and rotate a single record in its playing position, automatic means for laterally displacing for a short distance the lowest unplayed record so that it is clear of the said pillar and support and falls under gravity on to the said movable holders, and means situated vertically beneath the playing position for supporting a plurality of'played records.

19. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, the combination of a side bracket and central pillar having a shoulder adapted to support a pile of superimposed unplayed records vertically above the playiig position of a record, movable holders a apted to support and rotate a single record in its laying position, automatic means for lateral ly displacing for a short distance the lowest unplayed record so that it is clear of the said bracket and shoulder and falls under gravity down the said pillar on to said movable holders and means situated Vertically beneath the playing position for. supporting a plurality of played records. .20. In sound reproducing machines provided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, the combination of stationary supports adapted to support a pile of superimposed unplayed records vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders adapted to support and rotate a single record in its pla ing position, automatic means for latera ly displacing for a short distance the lowest unplayed record so that-it is clear of the said supports and falls under gravity on to the said movable holders, means situated vertically beneath theplaying position for supporting a plurality of played records, and distant "controlling means adapted first to move the movable holders out of their operative posi tion, then to cause them to be restored thereto and subsequently to cause the displacement of the lowest unplayed record. 21. In sound reproducing, machines pro-' vided with record-changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, the combination of a side\ bracket and central pillar having a shoulder adapted to support a pile of superimposed unplayed records vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders a apted to support and rotate a single record in its playing position, automatic means for laterally displacing for a short distance the lowest-imp ayed\record m that it is clear of the said bracket and shoulder and falls under gravity down the said pillar on to the said movable holders, distant controlling means adapted first to move the movable holders out of their operative position then to cause them to be restored thereto.

22. In sound reproducing machines provided with record changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, the combination of a side bracket and central pillar having a shoulder adapted to support a pile of unplayed records vertically above the playing position of a record, movable holders adapted to support and rotate a single record in its playing position, a sliding spring-hinged member adapted to laterally displacefor a short distance the lowest unplayed record so that it is clear of the said bracket and shoulder and falls under gravity down the said pillar on to said movable holders.

23. In sound reproducing machines provided with record changing mechanism adapted to play a plurality of disc records in succession, a motor, a brake, record changing mechanism, a sheathed cable adapted in one position to set into operation said brake and in another position said record changing mechanism, and an operating terminal for said sheathed cable.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa- GEOFFREY M. BOUMPHREY 

